Advanced CKM stage is associated with worse cardiovascular health and early arterial injury in young adults
In the FF-CHAYA study of 1283 young adults (mean age 22.9 years), more advanced CKM stages (1-3) were associated with significantly lower Life's Essential 8 scores and higher carotid intima-media thickness (a marker of early arterial injury) compared to Stage 0. For example, mean-maximum carotid intima-media thickness was 0.014 mm higher for Stage 1, 0.020 mm higher for Stage 2, and 0.100 mm higher for Stage 3 compared to Stage 0.
This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.
Advanced CKM stage is associated with worse cardiovascular health and early arterial injury in young adults The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Advanced CKM stage is associated with worse cardiovascular health and early arterial injury in young adults
This conclusion is most relevant to: Young adults in the United States (mean age 22.9 years, 54.4% women).
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Association Between Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health and Early Arterial Injury in Young Adults in the United States: The Future of Families-Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults Study. (Circulation. Population health and outcomes, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸CKM staging categorizes individuals based on presence of risk factors (Stage 0: none, Stage 1: excess adiposity, Stage 2: metabolic risk factors, Stage 3: subclinical CVD or advanced kidney disease)
- ▸Higher CKM stage is associated with lower Life's Essential 8 scores (worse cardiovascular health)
- ▸Higher CKM stage is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and lower gray scale median (early arterial injury)
- ▸Result: Advanced CKM stage correlates with early arterial injury in young adults
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Young adults in the United States (mean age 22.9 years, 54.4% women)
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design, so causality cannot be inferred
- ▸Single-center study (FF-CHAYA) may limit generalizability to all US young adults
- ▸CKM staging may not fully capture all aspects of cardiovascular health in this age group
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CKM syndrome?▼
CKM (Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic) syndrome is a novel construct introduced by the American Heart Association that integrates cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health into a staging framework.
How was CKM stage determined in this study?▼
CKM stages were defined using the American Heart Association's framework: Stage 0 (no risk factors), Stage 1 (excess adiposity), Stage 2 (metabolic risk factors), Stage 3 (subclinical cardiovascular disease or advanced kidney disease).
What is Life's Essential 8?▼
Life's Essential 8 is a composite metric consisting of dietary quality, physical activity, sleep, nicotine exposure, body mass index, blood glycemia, blood lipids, and blood pressure.
What does carotid intima-media thickness indicate?▼
Carotid intima-media thickness is a measure of early arterial injury and subclinical atherosclerosis, with higher values indicating worse arterial health.
References
- 1.Krishnan V, Ning H, Notterman DA, Goldman N, Khan SS, Shah NS, Allen NB, Lloyd-Jones DM. “Association Between Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health and Early Arterial Injury in Young Adults in the United States: The Future of Families-Cardiovascular Health Among Young Adults Study..” Circulation. Population health and outcomes, 2026. PMID: 42619589 DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.125.013042